Jonathan, Saraki, Ooni, Others Mourn Adeleke

Mr. Adeleke, aged 62, died Sunday morning at a hospital in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, shortly after a late night political meeting.

Jonathan, in a statement he posted on his Facebook page, described the late Senator as an icon and a great philanthropist.

He said: “I received the news of the death of Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke with a sense of great personal loss. It is hard to imagine that the very lively and warm ‘Serubawon’ has died.

“Though I am very sad by his death, I give God the glory for his life of contribution to Osun state, where he was the first civilian governor and to Nigeria, where he was an icon and to humanity in general because he was a great philanthropist.

“He will be greatly missed and the void his death has caused will be hard, if not impossible to fill. May his soul rest In Peace and may he achieve al Janna firdaus. I pray that God grant his family and supporters the fortitude to bear his loss.”

Similarly, Senate President Bukola Saraki, said Late Adeleke was ‘a leader in every right, a formidable colleague, patriotic statesman, courageous public servant and grassroots politician.

“From his track record as a second time senator, it is clear that Adeleke was a man who his people trusted to carry out their mandate in the Senate.

“He was always passionate about his work in the legislature, and showed competence, dedication and an ability to work with everyone to bring about the greater good. He will be sorely missed.”

In his reaction, the Ooni of Ife, Enitan Ogunwusi said it was saddening that while the Yoruba people were not yet out of the shock of the deaths of Dipo Famakinwa and Olumide Bakare, another big tree fell.

“Our amiable Asiwaju of Ede kingdom, a Senator of the Federal Republic His Excellency Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke who had in the past meritoriously served us as the 1st executive Governor of the State of Osun,” the monarch said.

Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Yakubu Dogara, described Mr. Adeleke’s death as colossal loss.

“On behalf of all members of the House of Representatives, I condole with the Adeleke family, the Senate, government and people of Osun State over this big loss,” said Mr. Dogara.

His party, the All Progressives Congress condoled with the family of Mr. Adeleke and the Osun State government.

“The history of Osun State would be incomplete without copious reference to late Adeleke’s contributions to the State’s social, political and economic development as its first elected Governor,” said Bolaji Abdullahi, speaking for the ruling APC.

Osun State Government, in a statement issued by the spokesperson for Governor Rauf Aregebsola, Semiu Okanlawon, said that Mr. Adeleke’s passing is a nightmare.

“The sad news of the death of the first civilian governor of our state, Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, has struck us like a thunderbolt,” the statement said.

“Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who is far away in China on state assignment is still speechless and in mourning.

“While the government awaits the reports of the autopsy which is being conducted, we can only calm our people to take this huge and incalculable loss with equanimity.”